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College Round-up: SJU’s Svoboda to finish up college career at NCAA East Regional

By Dylan Butler

It is a fitting finale for Andrew Svoboda.

The most accomplished golfer in the history of the St. John’s program will complete his collegiate career at the NCAA East Regional in Auburn, Ala. May 15-17.

It is Svoboda’s third consecutive trip to the regionals. His first two were with the Red Storm in 2001 and 2002, but while his team struggled this season, Svoboda didn’t slow down.

He had very possibly the greatest season in St. John’s history, winning seven out of 11 events and earning All-Big East honors by finishing fourth at the Big East championships.

“I believe this is a great opportunity for Andrew to showcase his talent against the top collegiate golfers,” said St. John’s Director of Golf Frank Darby. “The East Regional is loaded with talent, and I truly believe that Andrew has the talent to go all the way and win the NCAA championship. It has been fun watching him for the past four years.”

Svoboda led the Red Storm in every major category this year, including stroke average (71.75), percentage of rounds counted (100), average strokes off-the-lead (1.7), top-five (8), top-10 (10) and top-20 (10) finishes. He shot even-or-under par in 15 of his 29 rounds played.

Smith to Penn State

Archbishop Molloy basketball player Marlon Smith has committed to attend Penn State University in the fall. Smith, a point guard out of the Bronx, averaged 18.5 points, 4.1 assists, 4.25 rebounds and 2 steals per game in helping the Stanners reach the CHSAA city semifinals.

Baseball

Virginia Tech 7, St. John’s 4. Virginia Tech jumped ahead 5-2 after five innings and held off a late Red Storm rally to complete a three-game sweep Sunday in Blacksburg, Va. The loss drops St. John’s to 24-24, 9-11 in the Big East and all but knocks them out of tournament contention.

Blake Hershelman and Greg Thomson hit solo homers in the sixth and seventh innings for the Red Storm to get within 5-4. But Virginia Tech (30-16, 13-7) scored two more runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to put the game away.

The Red Storm hosts Boston College in its final Big East series this weekend at The Ballpark at St. John’s.

Virginia Tech 7, St. John’s 3. Wyatt Toregas was 4-for-4 with two RBIs and three runs scored, and David McDonald was 2-for-3 with an RBI for the Hokies in the nightcap of a doubleheader Saturday. Jesus Bravo was 2-for-4 with an RBI for the Red Storm.

Virginia Tech 3, St. John’s 1. Yet another strong outing by Joe Reid was wasted in the opener of the twin bill. The junior gave up three hits with one walk, striking out seven in six innings for the Red Storm.

Softball

Connecticut 7, St. John’s 5. Alesha Argeras went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, Allina Sainz went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, and pinch hitter Carrie Kester drove in a pair of runs for St. John's (30-28, 8-11 Big East) in its season-finale Sunday at Red Storm Field.

St. John’s 7, Connecticut 6. Sainz drove in Megan Oliver in the sixth inning as the Red Storm rallied from a 6-0 deficit to beat UConn in the first game of a doubleheader Sunday. Oliver was 2-for-4 with three RBIs, and Argeras scored twice for St. John’s.

Boston College 5, St. John’s 3. Oliver was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored, Jillian Sandoval went 2-for-3 with one RBI, and Jessica Cameron was 2-for-3 with a run scored for the Red Storm in the nightcap of a doubleheader at Red Storm Field Saturday.

Boston College 8, St. John’s 0. Kim Ryan pitched a complete-game two hitter, striking out seven, and Lisa Fisher and Erin Mackey belted back-to-back jacks in the top of the first for Boston College (31-17, 13-4) in the first game of the twin bill.

Reach Associate Sports Editor Dylan Butler by email at TimesLedger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 143.